Coin-counting mechanism



May 1% IQ ZGO E. P. DONNELLAN COIN COUNTING MECHANISM FiledApril 24, 1925 2 She ets-Sheet 1 Eda are" w INVENTOR. iv

flfiqmvelibzg M/' M ATTORNEYS Patented May 18, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. j

nwm r. nonnnnnm, or isnooxmm, new YORK, assrenon ro s'rannmaoim son COMPANY, me, or nnooxnnr, NEW YORK, A conrom'non or new You.

COIN-COUNTING MECHANISM.

Application filed April 24, 1925. Serial m.- 25,544.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in coin counting machines of the type provided with simultaneously operated individual counting mechanisms for each denomination of com, said counting mechanisms each having a receiving pocket for temporarily holding the counted coin discharged therefrom, and said receiving pockets having means for. releasing the coins therefrom combined with actuatin devices for said releasing means wherebyt e latter may be either individually and selectively or 1 simultaneously operated as may be desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide in connection with the coin receiving pockets of the machine, means for holding bags into which the counted coin may be finally discharged.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the coin countin machine made according to and embodying the principles of this invention; Figure 2 is a transverse. vertical section taken on line 2--2 in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section, similar to that shown in Figure 2, but illustrating the manner of attaining individual or selective actuation of the means for releasing counted coin from the receiving ockets of the machine; and Figure 4 is a deta1l horizontal section, taken on line 4-4: in Figure 2, but drawn on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the coin counting mechanism comprises a base plate 5 suitably supported y standards 6. Mounted on said base plate 5 are a plurality of coin counting devices, one for each denomination of coin to be counted; viz, a countin device A for dimes, a countin device B or pennies, a counting device for nickels, a counting device D for quarters, and a counting device E forhalf-dollars. Each counting device is of the general type or kind shown and described in prior United States Letters Patent 1,160,830, dated November 16th, 1915. ach counting device comprises a receiving hopper 7 having a rotary bottom upon which the'coins to be counted are deposited, and from which the coins are successively dischar ed b centrifugal force beneath a ropelir w eel 8 to actuate a counting mec a-nsm 9, with which is geared a registering device 10.

ournaled to extend longitudinally between the standards 6, beneath said base plate 5, is a main shaft 11, which may be driven from any suitable power transmission means 12 by an electric motor 13, or from an other desired source of power. Suitab e transmission means 14, driven from said main shaft 11, operates the counter shaft 15 and associated transmission mechanism for actuating the rotary bottom of each hopper 7 and sprocket and chain drives 16 driven from each counter shaft 15 actuates the shafts 17 of the propeller wheels 8 of said counting devices.

. ,In multiple counting head machines of the type above described, it is usual to provide, for cooperation therewith, a coin asmixed coins, and thereupon delivers the respective denominations of coins, properly separated one from another, through chutes 18, to the respective counting devices A, B, O, D and E.

Suitably secured to the forward marginal portions of said base plate 5, so as to respec tively receive the counted coins discharged from the respective counting devices, are a plurality of receiving pockets 19, which are open at their bottom ends. Connected with the lower end of said receiving pockets 19 are transverse guides or slideways 20 which slidably support transversely movable cut off plates 21. Each cut-off plate 21 possesses an opening or discharge port 22, which on inward movement of the cut-off plate will be registered or alined with the open bottom of the pocket with which the same is associated, to thus release the coins accumulated within the pocket for gravitation therefrom. Said cut-off plates 21 are normally outwardly projectedto' position the same in a normal initial closing relation to the open bottom of the receiving pocket. Such normal initial closed position 'of the respective cutoff plates is determined by an abutment lug 23 which is secured to and projects from the rear wallof each receiving pocket 19, and

each cut-off plate is rovided with a stoplug 24 to engage the a utment lug 23. Each out-off plate is normally held in forwardly moved closed relation to the o 11 bottom of each receiving pocket 19, as etermined by the engagement of its stop-lug 24 with the fixed abutment lug 23, by means of apull I s ring 25, one end of which is suitablyam liored to the inner or rearward end of the c cut-off plate and the other end of which is anchored to a fixed eye 26, or equivalent means, which is secured to the rear wall of said receiving pocket 19. The rearward sliding movement of each cut-01f plate, whereby the opening or port 22 is registered with the open bottom of the pocket 19, is properly limited by stop-pieces 27, which depend from the forward'orouter portions of the plate,

and which, on inward movement of the latter, engage the outer ends of said guides or slideways 20. Each cut-oil plate 21 is provided at its forward or outer end with a downwardly projecting toe 28.

Connected with each receiving pocket 19, so as to depend therefrom and beneath the cut-off plate 21 thereof, is a coin guide, com prising a funnel-like top member 29 having at its sides upwardly extending ears 30 to embrace the receiving pocket, and being secured in fixed relation to the latter by fastening screws 31 which are passed through said ears 30 into the 'side walls of said' re ceiving pocket. Said funnel-like top member 29 is cut away at its forward or outer side to provide an opening 32 into which the hand may be inserted. Connected with the lower end of each funnel-like top member 29 is a tubular well 33 terminating in an outwardly flared annular bottom flange 34, the outer perimeter 35 of which is of truncated conical conformation. Coopera tive with the truncated conical outer perimeter 35 is a clam ring 36, these. parts serving as a means or couplin with the lower end of said well 33 a bag 3 into which the counted coins may be finally deposited. The neck or mouth of the bag 37 is disposed over the truncated conical perimeter 35, and then the clamp ring 36 is lowered over the exterior side of the bag mouth thus arranged to thereby secure the bag in operative coupled relation to the well 33, as shown in I Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

eans are provided whereby the cut-off plates 21 of all coin receivin pockets 19 may be simultaneously operated to release all coins for deposit in the respective bags 37. Said means consists of a rotatable shaft 38 journaled to extend longitudinally between the standards '6 to the rearward of said receiving pockets 19. Fixed on said shaft 38 are a plurality of sheaves 39, one for each receiving pocket 19. Suitably coupled to the rearward end of each cut-off plate 21 is a flexible connection 40 preferably in the form of a pull-chain, the rearward end of which runs over and is fixed to the sheave 39 corresponding to the cut-off plate from which the particular flexible connection extends.

-The means for rotating the shaft 38 to simultaneously actuate said sheaves 39, comprises a lever member 41 which is fulcrumed on a stud 42 connected with the outer side of one'of said standards 6. Said lever member 41is retained in normal initial position against a stop projection 43, by means of a counting lots of coin, as for example, coin' turned in by street railway-conductors, or by agents in other businesses or industries, who at predetermined intervals turn in with a report the coins collected during workingv hours, thus enabling accurate count of the coins to be made for comparison with the report, and at the same time arranging for the deposit of each denomination of counted coins in bags or other suitable receptacles to enclose a predetermined number of coins of a given total value, ready for banking or other handling.

In such cases, the money turned in'by a conductor or other agent is separated to segregate the different denominations thereof, and then each denomination of coin is delivered through the chutes 18 into the counting devices respectively devoted to each denomination.

As the coins are delivered into the hoppers 7 of the counting devices, the centrifugal action exerted by the rotary bottoms of said hoppers will deliver the coins successively beneath the propeller wheels 8, which in turn impel the coins into actuating engagement with the counting mechanism 9, and thereupon discharge the coins into the receiving pockets 19, in which the same are temporarily retained by the normally closed cutoff plates 21 until the count of the particular lot of coins is completed. When a given lot of coins has thus been passed through the machine, the same will have been separated according to denomination, and each denomination counted, so that theattendant by reading the registering devices 10, will be enabled to check up the amount of coin turned in against the record or report of the ion conductor orother agent. If the count and report agree, the attendant may thereupon slmultaneously release the coins from the receiving pockets 19 for final deposit in the all the sheaves 39 are rotated so as to exert a rearward pull on their respective flexible connections 40, which in turn exerts a rearward pull on the respective cutoif plates 21 to which the outer ends of the connections 40 are attached, thus'sliding said cut-oil plates 21 rearwardly against the tension of their springs 25, until the openings or ports 22 are registered or alined with the open bottoms of the receiving pockets 19, thereby releasing the coins contained in the latter so that the same may drop through the funnel members 29 and wells 33 into the attached bags 37. The release of the coins for deposit in the bags 37 having been thus accomplished, the attendant releasesthe lever 1nember41, whereby the tension of the spring 445 will retract the same to normal initial position. The pull on the drive sheave 45 being thus relaxed, the springs of the respective cut-oil plates21 will thrust or slide the latter outwardly to normal closed position relative to the receiving pockets 19, and at the same time will exert an outward pull on the flexible connections 40 to reversely rotate the sheaves 39, shaft 38, and drive sheave to thus return all said parts to normal initial positions.

In the event the count of the coins does'not agree with the report ofthe conductor or other agent, and it is desired to remove the coins from one or more of the receiving pockets 19 for recount, prior to deposit in the ba s 37,'or if for any other reaso'n it is desired to remove the coins from any one or more of the receiving pockets 19 without dcpositing the same in the ba 37, the same maybe accomplished by manually and individually operating any one or more of the cut-off plates to release the coins into the hand of the attendant for removal from the machine. This is possible for the reason that eachcut-off plate 21 is independently operatable by hand, without interfering with or disturbing the connected relation thereof with the above described means for simultaneously operating the cut-off plates as a group; To thus independently and manu- .ally actuate a cut-off plate 21, the attendant inserts his hand pahn upward beneath the selected cut-ofi' plate, so that the heelof the palm presses against the toe 28 of the plate,

with the extended ahn beneath the opening or port 22 of sai plate. With the hand thus positioned the attendant presses in- Wardly upon the cut-off plate, thus sliding the same rearwardly, whereby the hand enters through the open front 32 of the funnel member 29, and the opening or port 22 is moved into alinement with the open bottom of the receiving pocket 19, thus releasing the coins contained in the latter so that the same may fall into the extended palm of the attendant to be thus ,caught and removed. Such independent actuation of the cut-off plates 21 is possible and does not interfere with or disturb the operative relation of the means for simultaneously actuating the same as a group, for the reason that the flexible connection 40 between the sheave 39 and the plate yields to the independent movement of the latter, as shown in Figure 3.

The convenience and simplicity of the ar rangement whereby the cut-01f plates may be actuated as a group or independently will be readily understood from the above descrip-' tion, and offers a novel and advantageous improvement in coin counting machines of the kind here involved.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts comprising this invention, as well as 1n the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope thereof as described in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit this invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of devices and parts as set forth in the foregoing specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. The combination with a plurality of coin counting devices of coin receiving pockets into which the coins are discharged from the counting devices, each coin receivin pocket having an open bottom, a cut-0 plate slidably related to the open bottom of each receiving pocket, said cut-oil plates having openings registrable with the open "bottoms of said receiving pockets, spring means for holding said cut-01f plates in closed relation to said receiving pockets, common actuating means for simultaneously movin said cut-off plates to open relation to sai receiving pockets, and connectin means intermediate saidcut-ofi plates an said common actuating means yieldable to independent manually controlled movements of said cut-ofl plates.

2. The combination with a plurality of coin counting devices of coin receiving pockets in which the coins are discharged from the counting devices, each coin receivin pocket having an open bottom, a cut-0 .plate slidably to the open'bottom of I each receiving pocket, saidcut-oif shaft and its sheaves to simultaneously retract all cut-o'fi plates into open relation to their receiving ockets.

3. llhe combination with a plurality of coin countin devices of coin receiving pockets into whic the coins are discharged from the counting devices, each coin receiving pocket having an axial discharge conduit depending therefrom, a slidable cut-ofi' late intermediate each receiving ocket an its discharge conduit, said cut-ofi plates having openings registrable with said receiving pockets, spring means for holding said outoff plates in closed relation to said receiving ket's, common actuating means for simu taneously moving said out-ofi plates to open relation to said receiving pockets, connecting means intermediate said cut-ofiplates and said common actuating means yieldable to independent manually controlled movements of said cut-ofi plates, and said discharge conduits having side openlugs for the insertion of the hand beneath said cut-oil plates.

4. The combination with a plurality of coin countin devices ofooin receiving pockets into. whic the coins are discharged from the counting devices, each coin receiving pocket having an axial discharge conduit depending therefrom, a slidable cut-oii plate intermediate each receiving ocket and its: discharge conduit, said cut-o plates having openings registrable with said receiving pockets, spring'means for holding said cutofi' plates in closed relation to said receiV- ing pockets a shaft journalcd to the rear of said receiving pockets, sheaves on said shaft opposite each receiving pocket, flexible means interconnected between each cut-oft" plate and an opposed sheave, means for rotating said shaft and its sheaves to simultaneously retract all cut-0E plates to pocketopening position, and said discharge conduits having side openings for the insertion of the hand beneath said cut-ofi plates.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 8th da of April, 1925.

' I DWARD P. DONNELLAN. 

